(a)(1)  Whenever any railroad company or corporation or any receiver operating any railroad engaged in the business of operating or constructing any railroad or railroad bridge shall discharge, with or without cause, or refuse to further employ any servant or employee thereof, the unpaid wages of the servant or employee then earned at the contract rate, without abatement or deduction, shall be and become due and payable on the day of the discharge or refusal to longer employ. 

(2)  Any servant or employee may request of his foreman or the keeper of his or her time to have the money due him or her, or a valid check therefor, sent to any station where a regular agent is kept. If the money or a valid check therefor does not reach the station within seven (7) days from the date it is so requested, then, as a penalty for the nonpayment, the wages of the servant or employee shall continue from the date of the discharge or refusal to further employ at the same rate until paid. However, the wages shall not continue more than sixty (60) days unless an action therefor shall be commenced within that time. 

(b)  This section shall apply to all companies and corporations doing business in this state and to all servants and employees thereof. Any servants or employees who shall hereafter be discharged or refused further employment may request or demand the payment of any wages due and, if not paid within seven (7) days from discharge or refusal to longer employ, then the penalties provided in subdivision (a)(2) of this section for railway employees shall attach. 

(c)  Any servant or employee whose employment is for a definite period of time and who is discharged without cause before the expiration of that time may, in addition to the penalties prescribed by this section, have an action against any employer for any damages he or she may have sustained by reason of the wrongful discharge, and the action may be joined with an action for unpaid wages and penalty. 

(d)  No servant or employee who secretes or absents himself to avoid payment to him or her, or refuses to receive payment when fully tendered, shall be entitled to any benefit under this section for the time as he or she so avoids payment. 

History. Acts 1889, No. 61, §§ 1-3, p. 76; 1903, No. 155, § 1, p. 272;  1905, No. 210, § 1, p. 537; C. & M. Dig., §§ 7125-7127; Pope's Dig., §§ 9111-9113; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 81-308 - 81-310.